Cartridge for web-type media material

ABSTRACT

A cartridge or cassette for light and pressure sensitive web-type media material includes a generally rectangular housing board received between a pair of identical housing ends, to retain a spool of such media material therein. The housing is formed with an exit opening in a front wall defined by an inwardly-extending flap parallel to the top forming a light-trap passage. Media material from the spool is guided through the light-trap passage with the outer pressure sensitive surface in noncontacting relation to the housing. The spool is formed with a central core which has an outer cylindrical surface free of discontinuities or irregularities. A pair of end flanges are received on the core having radial surfaces in close relation to the convolutions of the web. The housing ends are formed with annular inwardly-extending rings which terminate in close running relation to the adjacent outside surface of a spool end flange to support the media material and to prevent telescoping in the event the cartridge or cassette is mishandled or dropped.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cartridges and cassettes for retaining lightsensitive material, and more particularly to such cartridges andcassettes which provide protection against damage to the media materialby reason of undue impacts or shock loads applied to a spool of suchmaterial.

Efforts have been made to prevent the telescoping of web-type materialwound on cores, mandrels, spools and the like. Usually, the efforts havebeen limited to arrangements which tend to retain the convolutions ofsuch material in a radial array during winding. Little attention hasbeen given to the protection of pressure sensitive media material fromdamage due to telescoping upon the occurrence of impact loads, such asmight occur when a cassette or cartridge containing a spool of suchmaterial is dropped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application is directed to a cartridge or cassette for protecting aspool of light and pressure sensitive web-type media material againstdamage by reason of applied axial accelerations to the spool, such asmight occur when dropped otherwise mishandled. As used herein, the term"cartridge" is intended to include both single and multiple spool mediacontainers, the latter often being referred to as a "cassette."

The invention is particularly adapted for the protection of donor webmaterial containing microencapsulated image-forming chromogenicmaterial, such as made in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,440,846 and 4,399,209, assigned to the same assignee as thisinvention. In the above identified U.S. Patents, an imaging systemincludes a photosensitive layer comprising microcapsules containing aphotosensitive composition in the internal phase. This composition isboth light and pressure sensitive. It is intended to be imagewiseexposed to actinic radiation and thereafter subjected to a uniformrupturing force in which the microcapsules are selective ruptured andimagewise release the internal phase. The microcapsules of the donorsheets are applied to a substrate layer, and form a web of material foruse in suitable utilization apparatus. The cartridges of this inventioncontain such material in spooled form permitting the delivery, handlingand insertion of the media material into utilization apparatus.

The invention takes advantage of the fact that a wound web of suchmaterial can withstand a high shock load without impairment or damageprovided that the load is spread over a maximum area, and provided thatthe convoluted layers are not permitted to shift one to the other.

The shifting of one layer to the other, sometimes referred to asstepping or telescoping, will result when a gap is allowed between theedges of the convolutions and an axially adjacent stop or support wall.When such acceleration forces are applied, the media material canselectively shift in such space with resulting damage to the material.

In the improved cartridge of this invention, the cartridge end walls areformed with spool support and retaining structure in the form of ringswhich have inside surfaces in close running proximity to the adjacentoutside surfaces of the end flanges of the media spool. The end wallrings effectively prevent the axial shifting the spool end flange if thecartridge is dropped on an end. The invention is particularly adaptedfor use with media spools in which the core upon which the web is woundis separate from the spool end flanges, as more fully described incopending application Ser. No. 258966 filed Oct. 17, 1988.

Accordingly, one aspect of the resides in the combination of core, endflange, and cartridge end wall. The removable spool end flanges defineinside radially extending surfaces which are positioned in closerelation to the edge convolutions of the wound media material on thecore. Preferably, the core is wound on spindle winding apparatus, andthe spool end flanges are applied after winding.

The end walls rings have axial inside surfaces which form a closerunning fit with the outer surfaces of the spool end flanges when thespool is received or loaded within the cartridge. The arrangementprevents such telescoping by providing effective support for the woundmedia material.

It is therefor an object of the invention to provide a spool-receivingcartridge for pressure and light sensitive media material.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cartridge andspool combination for the storage and protection of media materialhaving pressure sensitive microencapsulated imaging material thereon.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cartridge, asoutlined above, having end walls with anti-telescoping ring members inproximity close with the outer surfaces of the end flanges of a spooltherein.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, the accompanying drawings, and theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge made in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the spool of the cartridge of FIGS. 1 and2;.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the spool with theweb type media material wound thereon, and the sectioned portion lookinggenerally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the spool looking generally alongthe line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially broken away end view of one of the end caps of thecartridge showing the spool therein;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the inside of one of the end caps,showing the location of one of the guide rolls and the path of the webtherethrough and with the housing board shown in section; and

FIG. 8 is a partial section through the cartridge, with the spool andweb thereon in elevation, looking generally along the line 8--8 of FIG.7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Description of preferred embodiment, referring to the figures of thedrawing, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention, acartridge constructed according to this invention as illustrated at 10in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cartridge of this invention is made up offive principal parts: a central housing 12, which is sometimes referredto as a housing board, a pair of identical cartridge ends or end caps 14and 15, which receive and are fitted on the opposite edges of thehousing 12, a central spool 18, and a web guide roller 19. The end capsmay be injection molded of plastic material. The housing 12 is formedpreferably of paperboard material which is painted or coated to have ablack, low reflectance surface, and is folded generally in the form of asquare tube with a front wall 20, a top 21, a bottom 22 and a back wall23.

The front wall 20 is formed with an inwardly directed flap 25 which ispositioned in generally parallel and spaced relation to a top wall 20 todefine a media exiting slot 26 positioned transversely along an upperedge of the housing 12. The slot 26 leads into an internal lighttrapping passage 28, which passage terminates in spaced relation to theback wall 23. The passage 28 is defined by the inside surface of the top21 and the opposed outside parallel surface of the flap 25. A leadingedge of the top 21 at the slot 26 may be folded back at 29 to form asmooth edge for the slot.

As previously noted, the end caps 14 and 15 may be identical inconstruction, and are configured to receive the board of the housing 12at the edges, and to hold the housing board in place. For this purpose,each of the end caps is formed with an outside, generallyaxially-extending flange 30 which forms a close fit with the outersurfaces of the respective top, bottom, and sides of the housing 12,when the end cap is assembled over the housing board, as shown in FIGS.7 and 8. In such assembled condition, as may be seen in FIG. 7, agenerally U-shaped inside wall 32 also extends axially of the end wall14 or 15 in spaced relation to the outside flange 30 and receives theterminal edge of the front housing wall 20, the bottom 21, and the rearwall 23 therebetween.

A top flange portion 34, extends transversely across the top of therespective end walls and is positioned to receive the top 21 and betweenit and the peripheral flange 30 at the top. The top flange 34 terminatesin spaced relation to the flange 32 at the front wall to define themedia slot 26. The flap 25 which defines the lower surface of the lighttrapping passage 28 is received on a ledge 38, with the inner most endthereof received within a channel portion 39 of the ledge.

The media guide roller 19 is piloted on one of a pair of locating pins40 formed in the end caps 14 and 15. While the roller 19 may be formedof plastic material, it is preferred to form the roller as a section ofroller metal tubing for greater resistance to bending. While a pair ofsuch locating pins 40 are formed on each of the end caps, only one pinis used, to permit the end caps to be reversed one to the other. Theroller 19 provides guide means to define the path 42 of the web typemedia material 44 from the spool 18, and to assure that the material isguided from the spool into the passage 28 and through the slot 26, withits outer pressure sensitive surface in non-contacting relation to thewalls of the housing 12 and to the walls of the passage 28.

The spool 18 of this invention is particularly constructed as to preventmarking of the web type media material. The spool includes a cylindricalcore 50. The core 50 is preferably extruded from plastic material anddefines a smooth outer surface free of any joint or discontinuity. Atleast the opposite open ends of the core 50 are formed with meansdefining an internal spline 52. Preferably, the spline 52 extends thefull axial length of the core 50.

The spool 18 further includes a pair of identical end members or endflanges 54 and 55. The end flanges may be formed of plastic material,and each is provided with an externally splined axial extension 57proportioned to be received in one of the ends of the core 50. Theextension 57 forms a close fit with the internal spline 52 of the core.

Each of the end flanges further has an annular flange 58 forminggenerally radially extending inside walls 59. When the end flanges areassembled on the core 50, the walls 59 extend generally radially fromthe outer cylindrical surface of the core 50, as shown in FIG. 4. Insuch assembled conditions, the terminal ends of the core 50 abut theradial wall surface 58 of an end flange.

The end flanges are further provided with axially outwardly extendingpinion or spindle 60, by means of which the assembled spool 18 may berotatably mounted in and between the cartridge end wall 14 and 15. Forthis purpose, the end walls are each formed with a spindle-receivingopening 63, as shown in FIG. 2, through which the spool spindle ends orspindles 60 extend in the assembled condition.

The web type media material 44 is wound on the core 50, on spindlewinding apparatus, prior to the assembly of the end flanges 54 and 55onto the core 50. The media material is formed with a width whichsubstantially coincides with the width of the core. Preferably, the coreis formed with an overall length, which is less than exceeds the widthof the media material, by approximately 0.005" to 0.015" at each end,thereby permitting the surfaces 58 to form a close or zero tolerance fitagainst the convoluted edges of the media convolutions, as shown in FIG.4, when the end flanges are fully seated on the core 50, as shown.

The end caps 14 and 15 further include means for locating the spooltherein and for preventing telescoping of the web type media material 44in the event that the cartridge is subjected to a suddenly applied axialacceleration, such as may occur when the cartridge is dropped. For thispurpose, each of the end caps 14, 15 is formed with an axially extendingretainer in the form of a ring 70. The ring 70 terminates at an innersurface or edge 72 in close proximity to the spool 18 at an outsidesurface of the adjacent end flange 54 or 55. As shown in FIG. 6, aminimum spacing as defined by the reference "X" is formed between theterminal or inner end of the axially extend inner end 72 of the axiallyextending ring 70 and the adjacent outside surface of the end flange 14or 15. The distance "X" may be in the order of as low as 0.010" up toabout 0.030" to allow for free rotation of the spool spindles 60.

The axially extending ring 70 is positioned, with respect to the spool18, to receiving axial loads applied by the spool in the event that thecartridge 10 is dropped on one of the end caps. Since the space "X" issmall, the end flange cannot be substantially displaced from its seatedposition as to permit stepping or telescoping of the web convolutions.Even if the spool is displaced by a maximum amount as permitted by thetolerances, the spool and end flanges will move as a body until input isabsorbed by the ring 70. The same relationship of the surface 72 of theanti-telescoping ring 70 exists with respect to each of the end caps 14and 15, and each of the respective ends flanges 54 and 55.

The operation of the invention is largely self evident from the forgoingdescription. The web type media material is wound on the cores 50 onspindle winding equipment, preferably with the end flanges removed.Preferably, the material 44 is wound so that the tension remainsconstant. During winding, the internal spline 52 may be used to locateand drive the core 50 on the spindle winding equipment.

Thereafter, the core with wound media material is removed from thewinder and the end flanges 54 and 55 assembled, by the insertion of theexternally splined axial extensions 57 into the interior splines 52 ofthe core 50. The full axial length of the core 50 is cylindrical andfree of any protuberances, or discontinuities, and the axial extensions57 of the end flanges, while providing a close fit, do not exert anyexcessive radial forces on the core 50 as would distort the core anddamage the web type media material.

The housing 12 is preferably prescored and precreased or folded at thecorners so that it can be formed about the loaded spool 18, with theedges glued in place on and between the flanges 30, 32 and 34 of the endcap. The inwardly extending flap 25 is received within the channel 39 ofthe ledge 38 and suitably secured thereto by an adhesive. The guideroller 19 is preassembled between the end caps prior to the wrapping ofthe housing thereabout. In the assembled condition, the anti-telescopingrings 70 provide an axial abutment at either end of the spool 18, at theadjacent outer surfaces of the end caps, to support the spool againstaccelerations which could cause telescoping or stepping of the material.

During shipment and storage of the cartridge 10, the media material isfurther protected by an angulated slot closure plate 80 (FIG. 2) whichmay be inserted with semicircular projections 81 received in the slot 26and the opposite end tabs 82 inserted behind the side flange 30. Theprojections also help to prevent crushing of the housing at the slot 26by weight or loads applied to the housing, by adding strength to thehousing at the slot. Rotation of the spool 18 may be prevented by an endlock or keeper 85 which engages cruciform shaped slots 86 in the spoolend flanges, at the hub portion thereof. The lock has a flat ledgeportion or top 88 which rests on a flat surface 89 formed on the outerside of the cartridge ends 14 and 15. The lock 85 prevents unwantedunwinding of the spool 18 prior to utilization. The flat surface 89conveniently forms part of a hand grip recess formed in the outersurface of each of the end caps.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a spool cartridge for containing a spool ofweb type light and pressure sensitive media material in which the edgesof such material are protected from damage in the event of a suddenaxially-applied acceleration such as may occur when such a cartridge isdropped, comprising:a cartridge housing having a pair of spaced apartend caps, a spool of such media material in said cartridge between saidend caps, said spool having a core and having end flanges forminggenerally radial inside surfaces positioned in close proximity to theconvoluted edges of such a web of wound media material on said core,means mounting said spool on said cartridge end caps for rotation insaid housing, and each said end cap having means defining at least oneaxially extending retainer having an inner abutment edge terminated inclose proximity to said spool at an outside surface of an adjacent saidend flange for receiving axial loads applied by said spool in the eventthat said cartridge is dropped on one of said end caps thereof.
 2. Thecartridge of claim 1 in which said retainer is a continuous ring.
 3. Thecartridge of claim 1 in which the axial length of said core does notexceed the width of said web-type media material so that said convolutededges are in abutment with said end flange inside surfaces.
 4. Animproved cartridge for protecting pressure sensitive web-type mediamaterial wound on a spool is said cartridge and for preventingtelescoping of said material in the event an undue axial acceleration isapplied to said material, such as by the dropping of the cartridge onone of the ends thereof, comprising:said spool having a cylindrical coreand having removable generally radially extending end flanges with saidend flanges having inside surfaces in close proximity to the edgeconvolutions of said media material on said core, said cartridge havinga pair of end walls, means mounting said spool for rotation on said endwalls, and means on each of said cartridge end walls defining an axiallyextending ring having an axially inner surface thereof terminating inclose running relation to the adjacent outer surface of one of saidspool end flanges and preventing any substantial axial movement of saidspool end flanges in the event of the dropping of said cartridge.
 5. Thecartridge of claim 4 further defining means on said core end flangesdefining an axial spindle, and means in said end walls receiving saidspindles for rotatably mounting said spool therein.
 6. The cartridge ofclaim 4 in which said core has a smooth outer surface free ofirregularities and discontinuities and open ends, said end flanges eachhaving an axially-extending portion adapted to be received in one coreend and form a close fit therewith, said end flanges being insertableonto said core after said media is wound thereon without introducingstress into said core.